Victory for Harris
Page 16
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• Harris Distribution has had its 69 vehicleand 34 trailerWest Midlands licence renewed without restrictions despite opposition from Stafford Borough Council and representations from 23 local residents.
The council and the residents were concerned about Harris' cold store operations at Stone where it is authorised to operate 24 vehicles and trailers.
West Midlands Licensing Authority John Mervyn Pugh was told that the application was in exactly the same terms as the previous licence and that no change was envisaged from the present operation at Stone, which involved 12 vehicles and trailers. Following council objections to noise nuisance from the 24 hour, seven daysa-week operation, Harris said it had constructed an acoustic wall at a cost of £50,000 and that various other measures had been taken such as the use of dry ice at night and at weekends in the refigerated trailers and running the refrigeration units on electricity when the trailers were in the yard. The company told the LA that it had resolved the problem to everyone's satisfaction.
Pugh said that if the diesel engines on the reefers were plugged into the electricity supply it was not a "transport" problem and that it was a mat
ter for the environmental health department instead.
The council next claimed that the site could not accommodate 24 vehicles and trailers, and this was denied by the company. The LA said that he did not accept that taking up unspecified authorised vehicles on a licence was a material change.
The residents complained about distress caused by noise and vibration saying that the sound barrier had made no difference.
Philip Ilsley, for the residents, asked that conditions be imposed on the licence restricting the number of vehicles allowed on site at any one time and limiting the hours of operation.
LA Mervyn Pugh granted the application after being told that imposing such conditions would close the depot down. He said that his hands were tied by the legislation.